Seal leakage indicator for canned goods



Jan. 8, 1946. N, SHO'NER 2,392,778

SEAL LEAKAGE INDICATOR FOR CANNED GOODS Filed Feb. 6, 1943 Egg. '1

Patented Jan. 8, 1946 SEAUIJEHKAG'EINDICATOR FOR CANN E GOODS:RobertiN.;,-Shoner, FortMl-ayne, Ind. .ApplicationFebruary 6, 194 s,Serial-'-No."4'7'4,947

'Thisinvention rlateslto'improvements in seal leakage indicatorsfforcanne'dgoods an'd'is' applicable lto ithati'type ,of container thatjs\closed and sealed byiaithin metallic cap, provided vwith arguttapercha-gasket lining that contacts with thermal: of thecontainerwhereforealhermetical sealiis effected. v

..Ord inarily, when:sealedicontainers oftthe type here referred ,to areKilled (with heated-goods and the rcap is applied, upon -subsequentcooling of the-icontents-cf the container, decrease: of spicessureoccurs therein due to.contnaction whereupon the Leap is -drawndownwardly .:-and --firm ly sea-ted in splace. l Norma lly, .the sealingcaps are thin and flat in their rm-idportions :and isubsequently becomeconcave to more or Jess :extent due :to the .deereasemf pressureiinvthecontainer.

,An Qbi'iBGttUf theinstantdnvention is 1:05pmvide an iins-trrunentthat-issappliedrto the :sealing map of -21 =rcntainer rafter --t-hecontain-er :has

been filled and-closed byutheccap, wherefore rto indicate whether-er:not {partial wacuum :has rroccurred'inithexcontainerEfbGIICOOfiI'lgI-Efldlif seal- 218101 :the cap has rthereby beenrendered-reflec- :Anotherobjeokd ith'erfinventionis to provide an.indicatorzbymrhichtzto:detectitailure of the cap CIOSlHgIE; container.tosbecomeeealed thereon thus toiavert-zdeterioration f rthe contents of-the container.

And a further object or the invention 13 'to' afiord ":an inexpensivesimply enerated fietector for sealing reap wand aprovide ad; list/ablemean-s by which the instrument -?'is rendered adaptable to sealing capsthat differ in shape f=rom*eaeh other -or have -sealing ringsby whichthe caps are sometimes temporarily "held in place during thesubsequen'twcooling operation-"of the 'conten'ts O'f thacontaiiners.

iotherobg'ects-"and advantages of "the invention appear in I thefollowing-description.

illustrative embodimentof theinvention is shown in the accompanying"drawing, "inxwhichz Fig. 1 is fragmentary side "elevational'iview of acontainerprovided'with amp and a sea-ling.

ring and showing one .form of the "indicator arranged in 'se'alatesting;position Lthereon, a .lport'ion beingbrokenaway; a i v i r I Fig. "2 isa toppian view projected from-Fig.1; Fig. '3J'is a .frontelevationalview .of lanseal te'sterofimodified'form .appliedlto a sealcap. in position: as it appears .beioressealin- :of the capoccursL'portions fbeingibroleen away;

""4 1s a similar view of the ;modifled asea'l.

indicator 'asit appears after "sealing of the cap has occurred; and aFig. is a view showing a horizontal sectionof Fig. 3 'onthe line 5- 5thereof.

The illustrative "embodiment of the invention, asshown inFi'gs. land 2,"consists'o'fa base '6 formed of a fl-atplate having anelongatedapenture 1 "therein, the ends of which "are enlarged to form sight openings*8 and 9. lnthe aperture is disposedaieeter-bar H) which iszsupp itedby'a fulcrum "pinll soas to have rocking-movement thereon. One-'end "ofsaid bar isshaped to providea disk [2 'that'is colored red asindicate'd,and'the' opposite end of the bar is similarly shaped to'"'form'another'disk l3 that is colored green; These disks-are *made smallerthan the sight openings so as 'to' 'be iree from contact with 'thesurrounding walls of the base.

A- contacting men'iber ll; consistingmf a -screw, extends downwardly"through the teeter-bar 1 at a point closely adjacent to "the 'fulcrumpin T0 and is threaded in the bar a so a's' to a'fiord axial adjustment'of 'the 1 screw. Preferably, the screw is'located-in' the" teeter barat the-side 'of the mlcrum pin nearest the red disk l2 SO th'fiit the"corresponding end of the'bar tends to' swing-flownwardl because *of theweight of the screw.

Secured "to "the lower face'of the base' ti, extendin'g' acrosswheaperture Tbeneaith itheteeterbar,'*at" points "adjacent'said sightopenings, are steps 15 bywhich tilting movement of the teeter barislimited in either'directiom'andprojectirig upwardly from the "base atpoints eadja'centztheouter ends-of the sight openings are provided-sightmembers t6. These members preferably-consist of light wire'st-aples andare for the ipurpose rof enabling the operatorrto'makeadjustmentsbfzthe" cont-act member 1150 15118 tee'terrbarwilrhaveitheproper balance and ranged-movement when-"the instrument-is'applied' t InFigsr'l-z and12 is showna container '1 'lrhaving athreaGed-neckC- IFBthat is c-losed by asheet'metal cap 19 secured temporarilydmplaceby'a-sealing ring 20 asin the customary-manner. When: such sealing-ring?is used, afterthe container has been filled and closedbythe cap,-theindioatinginstrument is then superimposed with itsbase on? the ring andwiththeilower end-otthe, contact member 4-4 bearingon-the: cap 1-9 atthe-wcenter: thereof. .The contact member is then adjusted by turningrituntil the .red disk is 1 raiseditoaapproximately the: top ofthesadjaeent gauge. member Upon cooling rof =the content 'of thecontainer and consequent partial ivacuum rthereby 20003-- sionedtherein, the cap 4 is drawn 1 downward-lymlowing corresponding downwardmovement of,

the contact memberand tilting ofthe teeter-bar, so the red disk islowered into its sight opening in the base and the green disk is raisedto its elevated position above its sight opening, and thus indicatingthat the partial vacuum in the container is maintained and the capsealed.

The invention is applicable to the closed containers at any time aftercooling of their con- 7 tents even though the sealing rings are removed,

in which event the base is first placed directly on the rim of anunsealed cap and the contact memberll readjusted so the red disk is heldin its'elevatedposition approximately level with the top of I thecorresponding sight member, The instrument is then placed with its baseon the cap of a closed container whereupon the teeter-bar will becometilted so the green disk is elevated, that is providing the centralportion of the capisheld down by the partial vacuum in the container,thus indicating that the cap has been properly sealed.

'of skill in the art, without departure above disclosed may be resortedto by the exercise from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is: r 1. A seal leakage indicator for'containers tha areclosed by sealing caps, said indicator consisting of a base having anaperture therein terminating at its ends in sight openings, a teeterbar[pivoted in said aperture provided at its ends with signal disks ofdifferent hue-having movement respectively in said sight openings, meansin the base to limit movement of said teeter-bar,

' a sight member on said base adjacent each of --said disksto determinethe relative positions 7 thereof, and a sealing cap contacting memberadjustably secured in said teeter-bar adjacent its fulcrum support, thearrangement being such that when said'base is positioned on th sealing'cap with said contactor resting on the center thereof, said teeter-baris tilted in one-direction or the other subject to flexure of said cap.7

The illustrative modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4 and5, consists of a baseB" having thereon a case 6" providedin its frontwith a sight opening 23 back of'which and suitably spaced therefrom isdisposed a plate 24, colored red as indicated, so when viewed throughsaid sight openingconstitutes a signal.

Within the case is mounted an arm 25 on a supporting shaft*26 forswingingmovement thereon 2. A seal leakage indicator for containersthatare closed by sealing caps, said indicatorcon sisting of a base havingan apertur therein tar-- minating at its ends in sight openings, a,teeterbar pivoted in said aperture provided at itsends with signal disksof difierent hue having moveand terminates at its free-endwith a signalmember' 21 colored green as indicated. The green diskis so arranged thatwhen moved upon its pivotal support to its lowermost. position it thenis disposed between the sight opening 23 and the red colored plateconcealing the latter from view. and when in its uppermost position thered plate is fully exposed and the green signal member is r concealedwithinrthecase; The arm 25 is actuated by a lever 28 that is pivotallymounted loosely upon asupporting shaft 29 in the case and has engagementwith a stud 30 on the arm 25 for the signal member,

A contacting shaft 3| vertically disposed extends through the case andthe base thereof and has'threaded thereon a cross-head 32 provided withtrunnions 33 that extend into the branches of the lever; 28 so thatuponvertical movement of the contacting shaft the lever 23' andthe arm 25are moved accordingly. On the shaft 3| is secured a co1lar34-and acompression spring 35' is disposed on said shaft between thecollarandthe wall of the case through which the shaft extends. .The top surfaceofthe collar preferably is made rough so that the contacting shaft is- Vfrictionally detained in adjusted positions when turned in thecross-head. e

In using this modified'form of theinvention l 7 member then'isdisposedibetweenthe sight opening and the red plate 24', thus indicatingpro sealing of the cap with the container. r

Variations from] theparticular construc ion ment respectively in saidsight openings, means 7 in thebase to limit movement of said teeter-bar,and a sealing cap contacting member adjustably secured in saidteeter-bar adjacent its fulcrum support, the arrangement being such thatwhen said base is positioned on the sealing cap with said contactorresting on the centerthereof, said teeter-bar is tilted in onedirection-or the other accordingly as said cap is flexed or not.

3; A seal leakage indicator for containers that are closed by sealingcaps, said indicator'c'onsisting of a base'having an aperture thereinter- -minating at its ends in sight openings ateeterbar pivoted in saidaperture provided at its ends with signal disks of diiferent hue havingmove-'-.

ment respectively in said sight openings, a sight member on said baseadjacent each'of saiddisks,

and a sealing cap contacting member adjustably secured in saidteeter-bar adjacent its fulcrum support, the arrangement beingsuch thatwhen said base is positioned on the container capwith said contaotorresting on the center thereof, said teeter-bar is tilted in onedirection or thesoth'er' accordingly as said cap is flexed or not.

4. A seal leakage indicator for containers that are closed by sealingcaps, said indicator consisting of abase having an aperture thereinterminating at its ends in sight openings, atecter-c bar pivoted in saidapertureprovided at its ends with signal disks-of difierent huehaving-movement respectively in" said sight openings'a's said teeter-baris tilted, and a sealing cap contacting member adjustably secured insaid teeter-bar ad jacent its fulcrum'support, the'arrangement beingsuch that when said base isrpositioned .on the container cap with.saidcontactor resting on the center thereof, said teeter-bar is tiltedin one direction or the other accordingly as said cap 7 is flexed ornot.g p s V 5. A seal'leakage indicator for containers that are closed byseal-caps having flexible central portions, said indicator consisting ota base adapted to rest upon th rim of such cap, a pivoted member in thebase provided with signal means, and a sealing cap contactor adiu tablysecured in said member having engagement "normally with the centralportion of said cap when the base is positioned on the rim thereof andis without engagement with the cap upon flexure thereof.

6. A seal leakage indicator for a container having a flexible sealingcap, said indicator consisting of a base, a teeter-bar pivoted on thebase so as to tilt normally in one direction, and a sealing capcontactor on said teeter-bar, adjustably movable relative thereto towardand \from said cap when the indicator is in operative position thereon,the arrangement being such that the contactor engages the cap when saidcap is not flexed, thus to tilt the teeter-bar in the oppositedirection, and is out of contact with said cap upon flexure thereof,whereupon the teeterbar then assumes its normal tilted position.

7. A seal leakage indicator for a container having a flexible sealingcap, said indicator consisting of a base, a teeter-bar pivoted on thebase so as to tilt normally in one direction, and a sealing capcontactor on said teeter-bar provided with a contactor disposed to beheld out of contact with or engage the sealing cap of a container whilethe indicator is positioned thereon, accordingly as said cap is flexedor not-flexed, thus to cause said teeter-bar to assume a defln'itecorresponding indicating position.

ROBERT N. SHONER.

